4 Drug Stocks Poised to Stage Comeback

After a lackluster 2010, J&J and Merck are among fund-manager picks with better fortunes.

Cambridge, Mass.-based Momenta is a biotechnology company with a product pipeline of both complex mixture generic and novel drugs. The company's M-Enoxaparin is designed to be a technology-enabled generic version of Lovenox, a low molecular weight heparin used to prevent and treat deep vein thrombosis. Momenta's second major generic product candidate is a generic version of Copaxone, a drug used to reduce the frequency of relapses in patients with Relapse-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. On the horizon, Momenta's lead novel drug candidate has been engineered to support the treatment of acute coronary syndromes, or ACS.

Shares of the company spiked up to $26 a share last July on news of FDA approval for its generic anti-clotting drug, but retreated back to $15 by the end of the year over valuation worries. Auer says the company's pipeline, earnings growth and partnership with Sandoz will help propel the stock back near last summer's highs.

"Momenta has nearly 200 employees who have figured out a better way to make drugs that attack blood clots. Earnings and revenues rose drastically in 2010 at Momenta, and we are confident this will continue in 2011," says Auer.